If you SAH and are a solid introvert

[Anonymous]

When your husband comes back from home, that's when. He takes over the chores and you have me time and then
you reconnect with him

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are very introverted and SAH with young children, how do you get your me time? I know I may get criticized for this, but I SAH with a three year old who just started morning daycare twice a week 9-12, and I still feel like I do not get time alone. A trip to Costco is an entire morning daycare time, and if I run errands or have medical appointments (I’ve had many lately), it’s still a 20min drive to pick up at daycare and that’s basically all my time alone. DH comes home from work and naturally wants to hang out, but I’m having a hard time with putting DS down at 8:30, and balancing doing evening chores, having time with DH, unwinding alone, and still going to bed at a reasonable time. How do you do it?

I'm a mom with teens and I wish someone had told me what I'm about to tell you: When your kid is in daycare, use it as your alone time and read, nap, eat chocolate. Then, go to Costco with your kid.

Some things yes you will have to do alone (doctor's appts) but really, just take your kid to as much stuff as you can. And do the housework when the kid is at home, preferably awake--again, when s/he naps, don't empty that dishwasher, go nap or read a book. You must priortize this, OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take your kid to Costco?

This. Run all your errands with your DC - that way the time he is at daycare, you can get rest/recharge your battery a bit.

+1

[Anonymous]

I took my kids on errands and appts so I could have preschool time to myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took my kids on errands and appts so I could have preschool time to myself.

This. I NEVER spend my free time on errands and chores. When my kid goes down for a nap, I drop everything and do what I want to do. That’s how I’d use preschool time, too. Save the work and chores for when they’re underfoot. Plus, it’s good for them to see you do it. You don’t want them to grow up thinking that chores get done by magic.

[Anonymous]

My DH and I each get 5 hours of free/alone time each weekend. Usually 3 hours of time when our kid is awake plus 2 hours during nap and it is glorious! He'll usually take Saturday and I'll take Sunday. It was a game changer for us- then, we spend the other parts of the weekend together as a family. It's amazing- I get to see friends, go for a bike ride, read a book, or go shopping alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my kids on errands and appts so I could have preschool time to myself.

This. I NEVER spend my free time on errands and chores. When my kid goes down for a nap, I drop everything and do what I want to do. That’s how I’d use preschool time, too. Save the work and chores for when they’re underfoot. Plus, it’s good for them to see you do it. You don’t want them to grow up thinking that chores get done by magic.

Better yet, have the kid help with the chores. At three, he can do a lot. My 18-month old was helping with putting away silverware (not well, but it was the thought that counted!).

[Anonymous]

This

Anonymous wrote:Take your kid to Costco?

and

This

I don’t get enough sleep. That’s how.

You just have to run errands with your kid. Bring snacks. Bring little toys. Have him be your helper or make it a game in other ways “I spy...” Then use your three hours for YOU. Also, an hour a day is quiet time. Period. He has to stay in his room and read or play quietly with his door closed. Use that time to have a cup of tea and read of BS around on the internet. And yes, I don’t go to bed until midnight most nights.

[Anonymous]

Wow, you went to Costco. As a fellow introvert, that is exhausting. Dh does the Costco runs for us b/c it is too much for me and enjoys the variety and novel item and spontaneous marketing purchases

Why cant you give yourself quiet time when your 3 yr old is playing independently after preK pickup? Or while she's watching her favorite tv show?
Do you run errands (and Costco) every day? Unless it is a minor trip to the store, I'd lump your errands on the weekends and use "down time/recharge" for the 3 hrs your kid is in preK. You'll feel refreshed and ready come 1215 pickup.

[Anonymous]

It is a weird thing being a SAH introvert. Combination of not enough adult interaction with way too much total human interaction. I use nap time for the little one and send the 4 yo to play in the basement or watch some tv on his own for half an hour.

I would try to take your kid on errands or appointments more often so that you can have some time on the school days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are very introverted and SAH with young children, how do you get your me time? I know I may get criticized for this, but I SAH with a three year old who just started morning daycare twice a week 9-12, and I still feel like I do not get time alone. A trip to Costco is an entire morning daycare time, and if I run errands or have medical appointments (I’ve had many lately), it’s still a 20min drive to pick up at daycare and that’s basically all my time alone. DH comes home from work and naturally wants to hang out, but I’m having a hard time with putting DS down at 8:30, and balancing doing evening chores, having time with DH, unwinding alone, and still going to bed at a reasonable time. How do you do it?

extend the daycare until after naptime.. 9-3pm.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I don’t think you can be a SAHM and an introvert and be alone away from your own child.

I thought this post would be about not wanting to do play dates or something.

Do you want to be away from your husband?

Maybe you should get a job if you don’t want to watch your child. You could get a work from home job and put your kid in daycare all day.

I’m an introvert but I force myself to take kids out. I have 3. When I see other parents, I say hello. I hate school events but I go for my kids. I take my toddler to the playground. It is what it is.

I love alone time and that went out the window when I had my first child.

[Anonymous]

Wow op I feel so bad for you. What do you think introvert moms who work do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow op I feel so bad for you. What do you think introvert moms who work do?

I SAH now, but when I was working, I could certainly shut my door and eat lunch alone in silence for a half hour or shut myself into a bathroom stall for 5 minutes. I was also alone for an hour each way commuting.

[Anonymous]

Of course you can be a SAHM and an introvert. Fundamentally, the question is, how do you re-charge? Extroverts can recharge in the company of others; introverts recharge when alone. OP, you’ve gotten some good ideas on how to get some alone time. One that hasn’t been mentioned is to join a gym with childcare. You’ve got this!

- fellow introverted mom who has wah and sah